Charles Houston, one of the seven people who lost their lives in the ferry gangway collapse on Sapelo Island, was a chaplain at the Georgia Department of Public Safety who provided spiritual guidance to cadets in training. He was 77.
The gangway at the Marsh Landing Dock on Sapelo Island collapsed Saturday afternoon, when about 20 people fell into the water. Seven people were confirmed dead and another three critically injured. The ages of the deceased range from 73 to 93, according to the McIntosh County Coroner’s Office.
Houston started a non-profit called Caring Connection Chaplaincy in 2011 to support local police departments and various other agencies, including the Georgia State Patrol and the Georgia Department of Public Safety.
“I see faith as a critically important aspect of any person’s life but especially law enforcement personnel because they see the worst that human beings can do to each other,” he said in a video on the Caring Connection Chaplaincy website.
Allen Waldrop worked with Houston for over 20 years at the Georgia Department of Public Safety. He described his fellow chaplain as very active and always looking for ways to serve.
“He never sat around and waited for a call to service,” Waldrop said. “Always ready to help in any way he could.”
Waldrop recalled working with Houston at the G-8 Summit on Sea Island in 2004, leading devotions for law enforcement officers and providing spiritual support for anyone in need.
“He was a joy to be around,” Waldrop said. “A great void will be left in the Chaplaincy of the State Patrol with his passing.”
Houston was known in the community for supporting families who were grieving loved ones, including Lori Durham, whose 27-year-old son died in a fire in 2012.
Durham said Houston would bring food and pray with the family as they waited for the coroner’s office to identify the body.
“We met him through tragedy, and he helped us in a way that no one else could have,” she said.
Other friends and colleagues took to Facebook to express their shock and sadness at the news of Houston’s death.
Rebecca Duke-Barton, pastor at Jesup First United Methodist Church, called Houston “an incredible mentor and encourager” for not only herself but other United Methodist preachers throughout South Georgia.
”He brought hope to so many people in his work as a preacher and as a chaplain,” she said on Facebook.
Mike Davis, pastor at Hahira Community Church, said on Facebook, “He was such a dedicated pastor and chaplain and was loved by those he served, both in the church and in law enforcement.”
Houston began his career in public service in 1976, serving as a pastor of Plains United Methodist Church while volunteering with the City of Plains Volunteer Fire Department. He went on to serve as pastor in many other cities including St. Marys, Centerville, Richmond Hill and Thomasville. He also served as chaplain of the police department in each of those communities.
In 2005, Houston became a chaplain with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and three years later with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
The non-profit that Houston started uses its social media platform to raise awareness about the importance of spiritual guidance for law enforcement officers.
”It’s more of a brotherhood and a friend than just saying ‘Hey, I’m a chaplain and I’m here to help you out and pray for you,’” Darien Police Lieutenant Anthony Brown said on a video posted to the Caring Connection Chaplaincy’s website. “You feel like this is a friend and [it’s] personal and this is my brother.”
Durham, whose family had been comforted by Houston in their time of tragedy, felt Houston’s death hard on Sunday. She attends First United Methodist Church of Brunswick, where Houston and his wife Elizabeth also worshipped. The Durhams had plans to get lunch with the Houstons on Sunday after church.
“We couldn’t make it to church today,” she said. “We were crying all night.”
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